The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-03-03
CHAPTER XIV.

All that dry the wind continued TO
blow with frightful force. and the sky
to wear It's mcnacing aspect On look
ing, however, at the barometer at four
o'clock in the afternoon. L observed Il
distinct rise III the mercury; but | did
not dare to feel elated by this promise
of an improvements; for, as l have be-
| fore said, the only thing the mercury
| foretells is q change of weather, but
what kind of change you shall never
DE sure until it comes.
What | most dreaded was the veer-
ing of the gale to an opposite quarter,
| whereby, a new sea being set running
right a>1wart, or in the eye of the al
ready-raging sea, our decks would be
helplessly swept and the ship grow un-
manageable.
A little after eight the wind sensibly
decreased, and, to my great delight,
the sky cleared in the direction whence
the gale was blowing, go that there was
a prospect Of the sea subsiding before
the wind shifted-that is, if it shifted
at all.
When Cornish. who had been below
resting after long spell, came on deck
and saw the stars shining, and that the
gale was moderating, he stared upward
like one spell-bound, and then, run
ming up to me. seized my hand and
wrung it in silence.
| heartily returned this mute con-
graduation, and we both went over
and shook hands with the bOatswain.
l was eager to show Miss Robertson
the change in our favor and brought
her on deck.
She looked up at the bright stars and
exclaimed in a rapturous voice:
''Oh. Mr.. Royle, God has heard our
prayers.
But though the wind had a5atcd, it
still blew gale.
| sent the steward forward to see if
he could get the galley fire to burn, so
as to boil some water for coffee. All
he did, however, was to get wet
through.
went to the pumps and sounded
the well.
To my CONSERVATION / sound there
were nine inches of water in the ship
| was so much startled by this dis
covery that for some time | stood mo-
tionless. Thinking that one of the
plugged anger holes might be leaking
| resolved to visi: the hold and exam
inc.
Taking lamp made my way over
the cable-rangeS, STOPPING to clear the
hammocks and swung myself into the
hold.
Here 1 found myself against the
water-caSks, close against the cargo,
and just beyond was the bulkhead be-
hind which the bOatswain had hidden
when Stevens bored the holes
Carefully throwing the light over the
walls l presently perceived the plugs |
or ends of the broom-stick protruding, |
and going close to them / found they |
were perfectly tight, that no sign of /
moisture was visible around them.
1t may seem strange that this discov-
cry vexed and alarmed me. And vet |
this was the case.
1t would have made me perfectly |
easy in my mind to have seen the water |
gushing in through one of these holes,
Because not only would few blows OF |
the mallet have set it TO rights, but it |
would have acquainted me with the |
cause of the small increase of water
in the hold.
Now that cause might be sought else
where.
Was it possible that the apprchen-
siOns i had felt each time the ship had
taken one of her tremendous headers
were TO be realized? she had
strained a butt or started bolt in some
place?
Here where l stood, deep in the ship,
below the water-line, it was frightful
to hear her straining.
The whole place resounded with
groans and cries as if the hold had been
filled with wounded men.
What bolts could resist that horrible
grindlng-could hold together with
waves beating upon it the force of
which was to be calculated by hum
dreds of tons.
1 scrambled upon deck and the boat.
swain joined me.
l told him l found nine inches of
water in the hold. In order to be GER
tain that no mistake had been made
we went together and / held the lamp
for him while he sounded the well
He dropped the sounding-rod and
holding it up to the light after with
drawing it found that there was frac-
ton over nine inches.
ITo BE CONTINUED